by Seanan McGuire
Series: InCryptid #5
Narrator: Emily Bauer
Length: 12 hours and 40 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 4
Fifth book in Seanan McGuire’s funny and fast-paced urban fantasy InCryptid series featuring ballroom dancer and monster expert Verity Price.
Verity Price is back on the West Coast and getting back into the swing of the family business: cryptozoology. She’s rescuing cryptids from bad situations, protecting them from monster-hunters, and generally risking life and limb for the greater good, with her ex-Covenant partner/husband, Dominic, by her side. Her ballroom dance career is behind her—or so she thinks. When Verity gets the call from the producers of Dance or Die, the reality show she almost won several years before, she finds the lure impossible to resist, and she and Dominic are off to L.A. for one last shot at the big time.
Of course, nothing is that simple. When two contestants turn up dead, Verity will need every ally she can find with the investigation, without blowing her cover…
Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire the fifth book in the InCryptid series. This urban fantasy series revolves around the Price family. Murder, dance-offs and new cryptid friends made for an addictive listen.
When Verity or should I say Valerie is offered the chance for a return season on Dance or Die, she pulls out her wigs and costumes before dragging her ex-Covenant husband, Dominic to Los Angelos.
At one time Verity considered pursuing dance and leaving the family business. While she is happy with her decision, the opportunity to compete again is too great. Not wanting to deal with what-ifs, she along with Dominic and a small group of Aslin Mice head off to the competition. At first, things are wonderful as she is reunited with old cast members but when two contestants show up dead with strange symbols painted in blood, she knows she is dealing with a cryptid problem.
Each book in the series deals with one Price and a cryptid-related mystery. Chaos Choreography was interesting in that we are dealing with a reality dance-off. It turns out some contestants are cryptids, including one of the announcers who asks Verity for a HUGE favor.
I really enjoyed the team that formed in solving this mystery. The murderer is specifically targeting contestants. Get eliminated…you die. It was suspenseful, but also had McGuire’s signature form of humor as we dealt with dragons, gecko type creatures, snake lovers and more. Verity consults with local cryptids and her family, but to survive she will need to keep her wits about her and delegate. I really felt like Verity came into her own in Chaos Choreography. She makes peace with herself and trusts others to handle missions. This was such a big change from Manhattan and allowed other characters to shine.
McGuire did an excellent job giving us a real feel for the on-camera excitement and demands of a reality dance-off. While we knew early on what the symbols on the body stood for, we encounter plenty of twists and kinks as the team worked to stop the killer(s). The last scenes were climatic and had me holding my breath from who would be eliminated to preventing the next murder.
The ending holy cow. I immediately began the next book in the series.
Emily Bauer once again narrates, and I loved her voices for Verity and particularly the Aeslin Mice.
Murder, dance-offs and new cryptid friends made Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire an addictive listen. #audio #urban #fantasy Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
verushka
Argh, another series I have to catch up with, especially as you make this sound soooo good, Kimberly!
Kimberly
Thanks. I hope you start them 🙂
Teresa Mary Rose
This sounds like such a good series and I am always looking for more urban fantasy. Great review!
Kimberly
I have finished all the stories to date and loved them. I hope you give them a try 🙂
Tanya @ Rantings of a Reading Addict
Still need to continue this series! It sounds like so much fun, did you listen? Was the audio good?
Kimberly
Yep, I’ve listened to the whole series on audio. Emily did a wonderful job!
Melanie Simmons
I’ve got to try this author. I love her work when she writes as Mira Grant. I keep saying that I’m going to try this name, but just haven’t gotten to it yet. Any recommendations on which series to start with?
Kimberly
OMG yes you do..wait until you meet the mice!
RO
I wouldn’t have picked this one up on my own, but your review makes it sound quite enjoyable. Hugs…RO
Kimberly
I love urban fantasy Ro. Happy Weekend!
Vanessa
Murder and a dance-off?! Ok, I need to get one of these!
Kimberly
Right! Enjoy Vanessa
Greg
I’m enjoying seeing your reviews of these and it sounds like they get better and better as they go. Plus Verity is back in this one? Glad this one had such a killer ending too!
Kimberly
I am all caught up on the series and awaiting the next release with everyone else. Yes, this is Verity and then the next two are her sister’s stories.
sjhigbee
I am so tempted! Except that I’ve already busted my budget for the month *sigh*. She is such a hard-working author… Thank you for a great review.
Kimberly
Haha…words I totally understand!
Sophia Rose
I’m so glad this one is going strong and keeping you grabbing for the next book. The fact that you’re seeing growth in her character and the plot still sparkles with fun is so great.
Can’t wait!
Kimberly
I am all caught up with this series and waiting for the next release with everyone else now..lol
Debbie Haupt
I’ve seen you review other books by this author so she is on my list but when I see a book you really love it goes a little higher on the list. 🙂 Thanks Kim
Kimberly
Have a great weekend Debbie and Happy Mother’s Day!
Mary Kirkland
Glad to hear you’re really liking this series.
Kimberly
Thank you Mary. Happy Mother’s Day!
Melliane
I really enjoyed this one, the beginning of bigger problems!
Kimberly
Oh yes! I finished all of the audios released to date. Now I am stuck waiting with everyone else.
Laurie @ Bark's Books
I cannot believe I still have not read this author. I really need to fix that flaw in my reading life.
Kimberly
I hope you do. She is one of my favorites 🙂
blodeuedd
It does sound so amusing! 😀
Oh and yes I m seeing those black spots elsewhere so dang it, why computer hast thou failed me
Kimberly
Everything I read said it is a system issue on your computer. If you tell me what platform you are using I may be able to find a solution
Ailyn Koay
What did we expect when the title of the competition is Dance or Die? The cover looks cool as well
Kimberly
Exactly!
Jenea’s Book Obsession
I really need to pick up the first book!!! This sounds great!
Kimberly
I hope you do. Have a wonderful weekend Jenea.
Cindy
I am loving book one in this series. I am listening to it via Audible and will move on to the next one right after I finish. Great review Kimberly and thanks so much for introducing me to this series and author I am officially addicted!
Kimberly
Wahoo! I am so happy you are liking it. You wany Aselin mice now don’t you?
Nadene
Suspense and murder sprinkled with humour. A delightful combination. It would appear that it kept you guessing, which is awesome. Good that you had the next book on hand.
Kimberly
Thanks, Nadene. Have a great weekend
Silvia
This one sounds good! I really like that it was suspenseful and, wait, did you say humour while dealing with dragons, gecko type creatures, snake lovers and more? I might not particularly like snakes *shivers* but hey, sounds like a nice touch 😀
Kimberly
Wait until the snake speaks to you.
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Murder mystery and a dance-off, you say? That actually sounds pretty amazing, Kim. And I haven’t read any books by this author yet – you are so bad for my wallet 😉
I hope you’ve had a great week!
Kimberly
Haha. I love this author and she pens as Mira Grant too.